Eli Manning stands in the lobby of his flooded apartment building after Hurricane Sandy ripped through Hoboken, N.J., where Manning lives. / @Jim_ICE

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

Hurricane Sandy ripped through the Eastern Seaboard on Monday night, leaving behind a path of destruction and damage from which millions of Americans will have to recover.

While it's normal to believe professional athletes constantly receive special privileges, they are no different from the rest of us in times like these.

The proof is in this image of Eli Manning standing in the lobby of his flooded apartment building in Hoboken, N.J. It shows Manning holding a flashlight (presumably because he has no power or expects to lose it?) and appearing to take a photo of the water inside.

Actress Kate Mara, niece of New York Giants owner John Mara, tweeted the image to her followers Tuesday night. Somebody else snapped it to update Giants fans that their quarterback survived the superstorm: "Looks like our QB is good in #Hoboken," tweeted @Jim_ICE.

I've got to thank our own Mike Garafolo for giving me the heads-up on this. Garafolo, who's still stuck in Dallas, lives blocks away from Manning but farther away from the Hudson River. Garafolo shared with me the update he received from his wife Tuesday: The garage in their apartment building was flooded, and there were marks on the lobby walls to where the water reached.

I live in Los Angeles, far away from the carnage, and can only imagine what so many folks are going through. Wish you all the best.